Bethlehem bounces right back

Eagles play well vs. Warriors after suffering their first regular-season loss in 2 years

By Jess Koehler

Published 11:59 pm, Thursday, September 19, 2013

Photo: Lori Van Buren

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Some injured Bethlehem players watch from the sidelines during a soccer game against Niskayuna on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 in Delmar, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Some injured Bethlehem players watch from the sidelines during a soccer game against Niskayuna on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 in Delmar, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Photo: Lori Van Buren

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Bethlehem goal keeper Liam Dole makes an impressive move to block a goal during a soccer game against Niskayuna on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 in Delmar, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Bethlehem goal keeper Liam Dole makes an impressive move to block a goal during a soccer game against Niskayuna on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 in Delmar, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Photo: Lori Van Buren

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Bethlehem's Ethan Strauss, left, and Niskayuna's Nick Shanahan battle for the ball during a soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 in Delmar, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Bethlehem's Ethan Strauss, left, and Niskayuna's Nick Shanahan battle for the ball during a soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 in Delmar, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Photo: Lori Van Buren

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Bethlehem's Matt Henning, left, and Niskayuna's Brennan Colby jump in the air to head the ball during a soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 in Delmar, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Bethlehem's Matt Henning, left, and Niskayuna's Brennan Colby jump in the air to head the ball during a soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 in Delmar, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Photo: Lori Van Buren

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Bethlehem's Ben Licht, left, and Niskayuna's Tyler Hanft both try to head the ball during a soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 in Delmar, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Bethlehem's Ben Licht, left, and Niskayuna's Tyler Hanft both try to head the ball during a soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 in Delmar, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Photo: Lori Van Buren

Bethlehem bounces right back

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Delmar

Fresh off suffering its first regular-season loss in two years on Tuesday against Ballston Spa, the Bethlehem boys' soccer team needed to regroup quickly before Thursday's showdown with unbeaten Niskayuna, the 18th-ranked Class AA team in the state.

"That was our first loss in two years, so it really hit us hard," Eagles senior Ethan Strauss said. "We wanted to make sure we bounced back, and proved to ourselves that we still got it and still play hard."

Bethlehem did that and knocked Niskayuna from the unbeaten ranks with a 2-0 win in Delmar.

"After our performance at Ballston Spa, I was a little concerned, but (Thursday) we seemed to be back to where we should be," Bethlehem coach Phil Ridgway said. "I'm a lot happier with the performance (Thursday), especially against a well-coached and organized team like Niskayuna."

The pair of Suburban Council powers most recently met in the 2012 Section II Class AA championship game, which Bethlehem won, 2-0.

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Senior Matt Henning, who was second on the team in scoring in 2012 with 10 goals, gave the Eagles (4-1 overall, 4-1 Suburban) an early 1-0 edge when Strauss found him waiting in front of the goal.

"Going into the game, we were all kind of not so sure of ourselves after that loss," said Henning, the team's leader in points with five this season.

"Coming out and scoring early put the confidence back throughout the team. It was a good feeling."

Niskayuna (4-1, 4-1) had one of its few chances to score first, but a Silver Warriors' shot went sailing wide left of the goal.

"We're a team that can score goals," Niskayuna coach Joe Carosella said. "We scored a bunch in the first four games, but we didn't look like that (Thursday)."

The 1-0 score held up until the later stages of the second half when Strauss corralled a miss and fired it into the left corner of the net.

"It took a lot of pressure off of us," Strauss said. "It felt great because 1-0 is the worst lead you can have in soccer. We could relax, play more possession and finish the game."

The goal was Strauss' third of the season.

"It's always nice to have an insurance goal," Henning said. "It takes the edge off a little bit."

Bethlehem's defense did its job of limiting Niskayuna's possessions and stifled a Silver Warriors' offense which entered the game averaging three goals per game.

"Credit to Bethlehem's defense and organization because they made us look like the second-best team on the field," Carosella said.